Painter (NVQ Training Opportunity)
Date: Jan 6, 2026
Location: East Cowes, GB
Company: GKN Aerospace Careers
Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
We are delighted to offer opportunities for suitably experienced candidates to join GKN and work towards an NVQ Level 3 Paint Sprayer qualification, with a view to becoming a Skilled Painter.
This is an in-house programme. Progress will be monitored by the Isle of Wight College, your line manager, and the Operations Training & Development Manager. The duration of the programme will be between 18 and 24 months, after which time you will be expected to have completed the NVQ programme, and moved into our "Skilled" workforce. You will be observed in the workplace by an assessor in order for you to demonstrate your competence against the Level 3 performance criteria. During this time you will be required to build and maintain a portfolio of work, which might require some "out of hours" commitment as and when reqiured
During the training programme, you will be exposed to skilled activity, in order for you to adequately demonstrate your ability to perform skilled tasks
Job Responsibilities
- Paint preparation
- Filling & brushing.
- Gloss finishing.
- Use of bonding primer’s and spray adhesives.
- Undertake all tasks in compliance with standard work and the training provided.
- At all times comply with the Site’s Business Management System (BMS) / Quality Management System (QMS).
Job Qualifications
Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate the following:
Essential
- Understanding of basic painting techniques – surface preparation, priming, masking, and paint application.
- General painting or refinishing experience (automotive, industrial or domestic)
- Good level of literacy and numeracy.
- Willingness and ability commit to undertaking a Level 3 NVQ
- Attention to Detail
- A sense of pride in your work
Desirable
- Aerospace and/or manufacturing experience.
- Experience of working within an organisation with a Lean / continuous improvement culture.
- Forklift/PED stacker licence (if applicable within department).
We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.
